House Democrats are voicing their opposition to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration's decision to withhold $3.4 million in state funding from Nashville because of a disputed charter school application. The lawmakers at a news conference outside the legislative office complex in Nashville on Tuesday afternoon argued that Haslam's decision was unfair to students at city schools.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner said the withheld funding could be subject to a legal challenge, while fellow Nashville Democrat Mike Stewart said lawmakers didn't envision the state holding the power to demand the approval of applications when they passed a law allowing more charter schools in Tennessee last year.

Opponents of the Great Hearts Academy charter school said its proposal lacked a plan for promoting diversity.